Jean Benear

Betty Jean (Nelson) Benear, the only child of Harry "Mike" and Dora Dean Dakin Nelson, made her entrance into the world on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926. Raised in Bartlesville, OK. Jean, inspired by her dad, an engineer and inventor in the oil and gas industry, and her mother, a calculus teacher and designer, excelled in the business of schooling. As a pre-adolescent, Jean dreamed of attending her beloved OU. Indeed, Jean became the first woman to be accepted for the OU School of Engineering. However, with the end of World War II, Jean surrendered her seat to returning Vets. Jean went on to achieve her degree in Television and Radio. One of the happiest highlights of her OU days was leading the Band, the Pride of Oklahoma, onto the field as Lady Drum Major. Growing up in Bartlesville, Jean was the only girl in her neighborhood. Long before the Feminist movement of the seventies, Jean, nicknamed 'Pete' by her dad, was not one to be left out or behind in life. She worked especially hard to master batting a baseball, shoot a basketball and to swim, in order to compete with every boy on the block. Her dad encouraged this feisty spirit in his daughter and created many opportunities for her to learn and participate in a variety of sports. He even constructed a made to scale baseball diamond in their backyard, promoting Jean to top billing among the neighborhood gang. While at OU, Jean met and married the equally bright, accomplished and handsome Robert “Bob” Benear. Bob, at the age of 20 was commissioned as the youngest officer in the Navy. During World War II, Bob captained a ship that served in the Iwo Jima campaign. Returning home after the war Bob and Jean settled in Tulsa, OK where Bob founded Sterling Engineering Company. In Tulsa, Bob and Jean welcomed into their family two beautiful and talented daughters, Suzi and Jan. Jean and Bob raised their girls as they had been raised-to seize every opportunity life offers for learning and achieving with gusto. This is perhaps Jean's greatest legacy. Jean unapologetically declared bragging rights concerning the accomplishments of her precious daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were a source of great joy to her. While in college, Suzi and her roommate pronounced the endearing nickname of ‘Mopsie’, of Peter Cottontail fame in honor of Jean’s Easter birthday. It stuck! Until Jean’s passing her children, grandchildren and close friends affectionately called her ‘Mopsie’. Widowed at the age of 45, Jean stepped up as President of Sterling Engineering Company until her retirement at the age of 65. This is when life truly opened up for Jean. An avid sports participant, Jean traveled the world with the Tulsa Ski and Running clubs. She collected wonderful adventures with her lifelong friends, Dr. Ross Waltzer, Dr. Paul Sommers, Richard Mitchell, John Cassidy, Don Reynolds and company. For at least seventeen years Jean ran every single weekend in at least one event, often taking first place. Hollywood couldn't have imagined a more fun-loving script; Jean at the center of its plot. Jean and friend Peggy Keith ran yearly in Tulsa’s ‘Race of the Cure’ in honor of daughter Jan’s valiant fight against cancer. In 2013 Jean was an honorary runner and ardent cheerleader. This was perhaps her most passionate sports event and fondest memory of time with her dear friend Peggy. Jean was recruited to try out for the Senior Olympics where she won 13 Gold Medals! That earned her the title of 'gold digger' among her fellow Olympians. One of her most prized Gold Medal’s was for women's basketball. When interviewed about the team's practice routine Jean told the reporter that 'the men's team won't practice with us because they say we play too mean!' Having lost the horseshoe event to the reigning world champ, Jean was asked if she was disappointed. Without hesitation she replied, 'No! I'm just thrilled to be able to compete with people of such skills and abilities." Jean played as she worked; one hundred percent. Her accomplishments rivaled those of Babe Detrickson on an amateur level. Over her lifetime Jean won over one thousand trophies and awards in tennis, snow skiing, archery, badminton, table tennis, track and field, race walking, basketball and running! Her favorite quote: “Exercise is your body’s insurance – premiums are due every day and you never have a paid-up policy.” In 1993-94 Jean was one of ten members of the National Spokespersons Team for the U.S. National Senior Sports Organization’s 1993 Senior Olympic Games. Selected as one of ten people from a national data base to represent the USNSSO, for a program to encourage seniors to stay fit and active - According to the USNSSO, Jean “ was chosen because she exemplifies the country’s changing image of aging and reflects the impressive accomplishments of todays seniors”. Jean called this her 'greatest honor'. She took this position so seriously that she was photographed lecturing Ross Perot on the need for physical fitness. The USNSSO couldn't have found a more enthusiastic representative. This chapter of her life opened up a season of motivational speaking engagements around the nation. She was dubbed, the 'energizer bunny' by audiences who loved her joy and vigor for life as she spoke of embracing life’s opportunities no matter one’s age. For Jean fitness for the body was second to fitness for the mind. A member of MENSA, Jean took up duplicate bridge to keep her brain nimble, playing competitively 5-6 days every week –and more if the opportunity arose. She was thrilled to have achieved the Bronze Life Master rank in The American Contract Bridge League here in Tulsa. Daily she did the crosswords and word searches in the Tulsa World and always had a card table puzzle going - just to keep her mind sharp. She enjoyed lively conversations on most any topic and never stopped learning about her world. She truly loved meeting people and hearing their stories. As a longtime resident of Tulsa, there were few Tulsans who didn't know Jean Benear. She was truly a Renaissance woman. Her love for sports was matched by her fervor for the Arts. Jean was an active supporter of the Tulsa Symphony, Ballet, Opera, Gilcrease and Philbrook Museums. Jean worked to raise funds to keep the Tulsa Symphony here in Oklahoma. The Hyechka Music society of Tulsa was a solid appointment in her social calendar, claiming the slot of Wednesday morning during its winter/spring season. Afternoons were reserved for Bingo with her family at Heatherwood. Jean was known for bringing friends along to many events to show-off these treasures of Tulsa. She loved this city and that love was contagious. Dora Dean, Jean's mother, instilled in her daughter a love for fine clothing and the proper way to present oneself as a lady. Dora designed, selected the fine imported fabrics and constructed all of Jean's custom wardrobe, including hats, until the time of Jean's marriage – until that time, Jean hadn’t one garment “store bought”. Dora created in Jean a natural discipline to never leave the house without makeup and hair properly in place, clothes clean, stylish with a flair of glamour, firmly accented by a wonderful well placed hat. Friends at Heatherwood dubbed her 'Ms. Hollywood' for her presence spoke of an era gone by when women took great pride in being properly attired and groomed. Jean wore makeup on and off the playing field maintaining her femininity while outscoring even the men in sports. Along with her OU college football games, Jean never missed a Thunder game. Her favorite player was Kevin Durant and she never tired of recounting his skills and scores to her Heatherwood family at “Coffee Clatch” on Saturdays. Her Thunder tradition started when daughter Jan was taking chemo. On Thunder nights, the family would all gather on Jan's bed with a huge bowl of popcorn, noisemakers, dressed in Thunder shirts to cheer the home-team onto victory. Given time Jean would convince you to tune in, join the fun and become a loyal Thunderous fan too! The human condition marks every life with some heartache and disappointment. Jean’s life was not exempt. But instead of embracing melancholy, Jean sprinkled her life with the celebration of simple joys. Her lifelong love of Charles Schultz’ Peanuts and the Gang gave her childlike delight in the ordinary of everyday life. At the start of each New Year, Snoopy’s calendar would take its place on her refrigerator, assigned with the task of reminding Jean to start every day with a smile. Peanuts puzzles abounded in her home. Friends knew that a piece of Peanut memorabilia would always serve as a fun gift and be received with joy. During the last months of 2014, after breakfast, Jean would have Ruth, a dear friend, assistant and “chef supreme”, read aloud a chapter of ‘Shultz and Peanuts’, the biography of Peanuts creator Charles Schultz. Jean thoroughly enjoyed getting to ‘know’ the why and how Peanuts came to be. Not unlike Jean, Charles Schultz was driven by passion to succeed and create a good life for himself. Jean felt a real kinship with him and simply adored Snoopy, Charlie Brown and company. It was great fun to discover their beginnings. Jean left us on December 27, 2014. In the final two weeks of her life, Jean attended two Christmas parties, a birthday party, the Ballet, Bingo and had her nails done in sparkling gold to match her new Asian influence jacket. She was a whirlwind to the end, embracing all life had to offer with joy, gusto and fun. Despite health challenges Jean lived fully engaged in her world. Her wonderful legacy encourages us to embrace our ordinary days for the gifts that they are and make the most of every opportunity. That was and is the essence of Jean Benear Jean was preceded in death by her husband Robert Benear and daughter Jan (Benear) Johnson. Jean is survived in life by daughter Suzi (Benear) Knight of Midland, Texas, Grandchildren Rob and wife, Stephi and Hilary Knight of Midland Texas, Russ Johnson and Dan and wife, Katherine Johnson, and great-grandchildren Kate Benear Johnson, Anna Creel Johnson, Oliver Copeland Johnson, all of Oklahoma City, OK. Nieces’ and nephews: John (Jay) Benear and Robyn and husband, Larry Ewing of Tulsa and Bert (Fritz) Benear of Oklahoma City,OK – Special sisters-in-laws: Melba (Mrs.Bert) Benear and Rita (Mrs. John) Benear. Jean also leaves a large extended family: Dr. Gary McDonald of Houston, Texas, Jimmy Seymour of Tulsa, and Susy “Spilly” Morris of Oklahoma City; Ross Waltzer, John Cassidy, Richard Mitchell, daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer, Jim and Peggy Keith of Broken Arrow, Ron and Becky West, Jessie and Richard Bryson, Ruth Driscoll, Heather Parker, Susanne and Tim Huff, Reba, Jean Siefried, Virginia & Johnnie Egbert, Erin Roberts, Maddie Marrs, Donna Strand, all of Tulsa, OK, and her Heatherwood Under the Trees community. We would like to invite family and friends to a Celebration of Life from 2-4:00 PM , Saturday, February 28th at the Clubhouse at Heatherwood Apts Under The Trees - 3002 East 51st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma ( there will be extra parking available due East of complex at the retail center parking lot). Looking forward to seeing you all - Please feel free to bring stories and memories to share....... and also please, extend our invitation to contacts with whom we might have lost touch ........... See you then!!!

Jean Benear

April 4, 1926 - December 27, 2014